Leaving Our Nets

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4:18-25

I used to think that Jesus called Peter and Andrew away from fishing so they could "fish" for people. And they did. Even more so, they let go of their familiar, secure life. They had to learn new ways of doing and being, and they had to hear strange tongues, smell other odors and live around people who were strange to them. They had to listen both to Jesus and the people. Too often we get caught up in our familiar tasks, our familiar places and friends. We don't hear anything new or strange, never meet with anyone different from our circle and never live with any discomfort. Jesus calls us to uncomfortable places and to difficult situations. May we get untangled from the nets that keep us secure and faithfully move towards new people and new life.

Wondrous Creator, you place us in safety

so we might know your love among family

and you strengthen us so we might become

family to the ones we once called strangers.

Oh, how wonderful our comfortable homes are

and how little these nets do for the whole world

we would choose to stay put in this comfort

rather than step out in faith to follow Jesus.

Help us to leave our familiar and safety nets

and seek those who need a sign of love

let us follow Jesus into a world of strangers

trusting that we will find our true home. Amen.